press charges
idiom
: to take legal action against someone : to officially accuse someone of a crime
He was caught shoplifting, but the store owner didn't press charges.
Examples of press charges in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The student’s parents were notified and expressed intent to press charges on behalf of their child.
—
Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Police said the man didn't want to press charges, so she was released soon after.
—Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Last week, Minnesota chief district judge Patrick Schiltz affirmed a decision from a magistrate judge not to press charges against Lemon and four others.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Richardson was held in custody for nearly 19 hours at the SCORE South Correctional Entity, but Coleman refused to press charges.
—Zach Powell, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for press charges
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Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Police said the man didn't want to press charges, so she was released soon after.
—Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Last week, Minnesota chief district judge Patrick Schiltz affirmed a decision from a magistrate judge not to press charges against Lemon and four others.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Richardson was held in custody for nearly 19 hours at the SCORE South Correctional Entity, but Coleman refused to press charges.
—Zach Powell, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for press charges
Cite this Entry
“Press charges.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press%20charges. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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